Composite container and method for manufacturing same (“multi-layer preform”)

ABSTRACT

A composite container, comprising a form-retaining outer container comprising a neck, and a flexible inner container, the inner container comprising a dispensing opening mounted in the neck of the outer container is presented. The inner container is connected over a part of its surface area near the dispensing opening to a corresponding surface area of the inside of the outer container near the neck, via adhesive or weld connection, such that there remains a portion of the inner container not connected to the sidewall of the outer container. In response to an overpressure developed by a displacing medium introduced between the inner container and the outer container, a portion of the inner container that is not connected to the outer container moves at least one of: (i) towards the dispensing opening and (ii) within, the portion of the inner container that is connected to the outer container.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/803,845 filed Jul. 8, 2010, now allowed, which is acontinuation-in-part of PCT/NL2009/000001, of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. PCT/NL2009/000001 was filedJan. 8, 2009, and thereafter published as WO 2009/088285, on July 16.PCT/NL2009/000001 claimed priority to NL 1034895, filed on Jan. 8, 2008,which is also hereby incorporated herein by reference. Applicants herebyclaim priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to both (i) PCT/NL2009/00000 and to(ii) NL 1034895 (filed in The Netherlands).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to composite containers for dispensing ofliquids and the like, and in particular to a glued multi-layer pre-formand methods of manufacturing and assembling such a multi-layer pre-form.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Applicant has previously described composite containers comprising aform-retaining outer container and at least one flexible innercontainer, wherein the inner container has a dispensing opening mountedin a neck of the outer container, and wherein the at least one innercontainer is also connected over at least a part of its periphery to theouter container. Such a composite container was described by applicant,for example, in NL 1033582.

In such previous composite containers the outer container and the innercontainer were formed integrally by means of a two-component injectionmolding process, followed by heating and blowing, in what is known as ablow molding process. In such processes the inner container adheres tothe inner surface of the outer container over its entire outer surface.Then, when a displacing medium such as air is forced between the twocontainers the connection between the inner container and the outercontainer was gradually broken. The flexible inner container was thengradually compressed, whereby the content thereof, generally a liquid ora paste, would be pressed out of the composite container through adispensing opening.

What is needed in the art is an improved composite container that it isboth easier to manufacture and from which dispensing of contents can bebetter controlled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In what follows, the present invention is described via a number ofexamples, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, inwhich;

FIG. 1 depicts a side view of an inner container pre-form formed byinjection molding after application of a ring of adhesive according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of how an exemplary inner containeris inserted into an outer container also formed by injection molding;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section showing the inner and outer containers ofFIGS. 1-2 as assembled;

FIG. 4 depicts a cross-section through the composite container of FIG. 3after inflation to its final form, being filled with a product fordispensing, closed with a dosing head and provided with a connectingmember to a source of displacing medium;

FIGS. 5-7 show cross-sections of the composite container of FIG. 4during various different stages of dispensing product from thecontainer;

FIG. 8 is similar view of an inner container pre-form as shown in FIG. 1after application of adhesive according to an alternate exemplaryembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 depicts a cross-section through a composite container made fromthe inner container pre-form of FIG. 1 after inflation to its full size,being filled with a product for dispensing, closed with a dosing headand provided with a connecting member to a source of displacing medium;

FIGS. 10-12 show cross-sections of the composite container of FIG. 9during various different stages of dispensing a product from thecontainer;

FIG. 13 is a cross-section showing exemplary pre-forms of two inner andone outer containers as assembled according to an exemplary “twoproduct” embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 shows a cross-section through a composite container made fromthe assembled pre-form of FIG. 13 after inflation to its full size andbeing filled with two products for dispensing;

FIG. 15 depicts the composite container of FIG. 14 during dispensing ofthe two products from the two inner containers;

FIG. 16 depicts an inner container pre-form with adhesive appliedaccording to yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 17 depicts a composite container pre-form comprising the innercontainer pre-form of FIG. 16 where the adhesive has begun to spreadwithin the recess;

FIGS. 13-20 depict cross-sections of an exemplary full-size containermade from the pre-form of FIG. 17 during various stages of dispensingproduct;

FIG. 21 depicts views of an exemplary inner container pre-form accordingto yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 22 depicts an exemplary outer container pre-form for use with theinner container pre-form of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 depicts assembly of the inner and outer container pre-forms ofFIGS. 21 and 22 to form a composite container pre-form;

FIG. 24 depicts an air valve and power connector for use with thecomposite container pre-form of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 depicts affixation of the power connector of FIG. 24 to thecomposite container pre-form of FIG. 23 according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 26 shows the pre-form of FIG. 25 after inflation to bottle sizeaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 27-30 depict cut-away views of the full size bottle of FIG. 26during various stages of dispensing product according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A composite container, comprising a form-retaining outer container and aflexible inner container is presented. The inner container comprises adispensing opening and can be mounted in a neck of the outer container,and the inner container is further connected to the outer container byan adhesive or weld connection over a portion of its periphery. Theadhesive or weld connection can take the form of a ring adhesion or weldextending transversely to a central longitudinal axis of the container,or can cover the entire surface area of a defined portion of therespective inner container and outer container walls, such as, forexample, the upper one-half of the container. The adhesion or weld canbe substantially permanent, or alternatively, the adhesive or weldconnection can be adapted to detach in controlled manner under theinfluence of pressures occurring in the container. Additionally, amethod for manufacturing such a composite container is also presented,including forming a form-retaining outer container pre-form comprising aneck, forming a flexible inner container pre-form comprising adispensing opening, inserting the inner container pre-form into theouter container pre-form and fixing said inner container pre-form to theneck of the outer-container pre-form. If the two containers are to beconnected by adhesive, then prior to inserting the inner containerpre-form into the outer container pre-form, a glue or adhesive can beapplied either to the outer surface of the inner container pre-form orto the inner surface of the outer container pre-form, defining a portionof the surface area of the inner and outer containers where they will beconnected. Once the two pre-forms are assembled, the composite containercan be blown to full size under significant pressures, and the innercontainer becomes connected to the outer container over the definedportion of their periphery (e.g., their upper halves) by the adhesivespreading under such pressure, or by welding, into an air-tight seal. Inexemplary embodiments of the present invention, the remaining portion ofthe inner container pre-form can be coated with an anti-stick coatingprior to insertion into the outer container pre-form, so as tofacilitate motion of the remaining portion of the flexible innercontainer relative to the outer container. In exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention, in operation, under pressure supplied by adisplacing medium, the non-adhering portion of the inner container movesupwards within the outer container in a piston-like motion so as todispense a product provided inside it, until it has completely folded onitself so that it its inner wall fully contacts the inner wall of theadhering portion of the inner container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a composite containercan be provided that has an adhesive or weld connection between theinner container and the outer container over a defined area of each ofthese containers. Such an adhesive or weld connection can be effected ina simple manner and can, if desired, be adapted to the desired releasebehavior without modification of either the properties or materials ofeither the inner container or the outer container.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention a method formanufacturing such a composite container can be provided. Such a methodcan comprise, for example, (i) forming a form-retaining outer containerpre-form comprising a neck; (ii) forming at least one flexible innercontainer pre-form comprising a dispensing opening; and (iii) insertingthe at least one inner container pre-form into the outer containerpre-form and fixing the inner container to the neck of said outercontainer; (v) wherein, after insertion in the outer container, the atleast one inner container is connected to the outer container over aportion of its surface nearest to the neck of the outer container bymeans of adhesion or welding. Pre-forms can be formed by injectionmolding. A pre-form is a relatively thick-walled semi-manufacture whichhas roughly the form of a test tube.

If the connection between the two containers is via adhesive or glue,then such adhesive or glue can be applied to the outer surface of theinner container pre-form, or to the inner surface of the outer containerpre-form, prior to insertion of the at least one inner containerpre-form into the outer container pre-form. Once the two pre-forms areblown to full size, the pressure applied during the blowing operationspreads the adhesive uniformly between the two containers, and allowsthe adhesive or glue to form an air-tight seal.

Such an exemplary method can further include, for example, that theconnection between inner container and outer container be essentiallypermanent. Such an exemplary method can further include, for example,that the inner container be connected to the outer container such thatunder an applied pressure the inner container will fold inside itself ina piston type motion. Such an exemplary method can still further includethat the connection between the inner container and outer container issuch that when the inner container folds inside itself in said pistontype motion the portion of the inner container that is not connected tothe outer container slides along the inside of the portion of the innercontainer whose outer all is connected to the outer container, but theportion of the inner container and outer containers that are connectedremains in an air-tight seal.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary composite container according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. With reference thereto,composite container 1 comprises a form-retaining outer container 2 and aflexible inner container 3 inside it, which can be filled, for example,with a product P for dispensing. Product P can be, for example, aliquid, such as a beverage, a scented aromatic, or a condiment, or a gelor paste, such as, for example, a lubricant, toothpaste, caulkingcompound, or the like. Or, for example, a powder that has fluid orsemi-fluid properties, such as for example, certain powdered lubricants.Inner container 3 can have, for example, a dispensing opening 4 whichcan be mounted in neck 5 of outer container 2. In the example shown inFIG. 4 dispensing opening 4 has a bent collar 6 which can be snappedaround edge 7 of neck 5 for fastening. Inner container 3, which liesagainst the inner wall of outer container 2 over substantially itsentire surface, can, for example, be further connected to outercontainer 2 by an adhesive connection 8 over at least a part of itsperiphery.

For example, adhesive connection 8 can take the form of an adhesive orwelded ring. Such a ring can extend transversely to a longitudinal axisL of the container running from dispensing opening 4 to bottom 9. Asshown in FIG. 4, adhesive or welded ring 8 can, for example, be providedapproximately halfway between dispensing opening 4 and bottom 9, and canbe designed to withstand the pressures which may develop in compositecontainer 1 during dispensing of product P, and remain closed in anair-tight seal.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, dispensing opening 4of inner container 3 (which also functions as the dispensing opening ofthe entire composite container), can be closed, for example, by dosinghead 10 mounted thereon. Dosing head 10 can have a dosing opening 11which can, for example, be closed by pivotable closure member 12.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an opening 13 can beformed in the bottom of outer container 2, through which a displacingmedium D, such as, for example, air, can be introduced between innercontainer 3 and outer container 2, as shown in FIG. 5. A connectingmember 14 can be provided for this purpose, an opening 15 of which can,for example, be connected to a displacing medium source (not shown),such as, for example, an air pump, gas pump or other displacing mediumintroduction means.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, outer container 2 andinner container 3 can be formed separately, as pre-forms, by injectionmolding. Such pre-forms are next described with reference to FIGS. 1-3.The two pre-forms can be made from a variety of materials, and need notbe made from the same material. For example, outer container 2 can beformed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and inner container 3 canbe formed from polypropylene (PP). Or, for example, both the innercontainer and the outer container can be formed from the same material,such as either PET or PP, or, for example using other polyolefins.

With reference to FIG. 1, after the inner container pre-form has beeninjection molded, adhesive 8 can be arranged around the inner containerpre-form 3, after which this pre-form can be inserted into the outercontainer pre-form 2, as shown in FIG. 2, and fixed therein as shown inFIG. 3. Alternatively, the adhesive can be provided on the inner surfaceof the outer container pre-form 2 and then the two pre-forms affixed.Such affixation can be effected mechanically, such as, for example, byclicking collar 6 fixedly around edge 7, as well as chemically, such asfor example, via an adhesive connection such as, for example, adhesive8. The combined pre-forms can then, for example, be heated to atemperature so that they become soft. Such temperature can be, forexample, between the glass temperature and the melting temperature ofthe plastics used. In this soft state, the composite container can thenbe blown into its final shape in a mold. The pressure under which thepre-forms are blown, for example, between 25-40 bar, spreads out theadhesive that was applied to the inner container (or the outercontainer) between them in a uniform and thin layer, making for anair-tight seal.

As shown in FIGS. 5-6, when composite container 1 is used for the doseddispensing of a product P, a displacing medium D can, for example, beintroduced into the space between inner container 3 and outer container2 via connecting member 14 and opening 13. Pressure can then bedeveloped in inner container 3 so that the product P will flow out ofinner container 3, for example, as soon as closure member 12 is used toopen an opening 11 in dosing head 10. The presence of the adhesivebetween the two containers 8 ensures that, from, for example, the top ofto roughly halfway down the container, inner container 3 remains adheredover its entire periphery to outer container 2 in an air-tight seal, sothat displacing medium D does not come near the vicinity of dispensingopening 4. Inner container 3 can thus be uniformly emptied from bottom 9and can further be prevented from being pressed closed from pressuresapplied at its sides, whereby product P could become “trapped” due to aclosing or crimping of inner container 3 at the top (where the diameteris smaller, and thus the resistance to pressure less), leaving theproduct P under such a closure or crimping of the inner container stuckin the inner container. Because adhesive connection 8 is designed towithstand the pressures occurring when inner container 3 is beingpressed (both from the displacing medium introduced at the bottom aswell as by, for example, a user squeezing the outer surfaces of theouter container 2), inner container 3 will fold inside itself up aboveadhesive connection 8, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

It is noted that in the various figures the adhesive connection is shownas a strip or a helix-like series of strips, for ease of illustration.While glue or adhesive may be applied in this fashion at the performstage, once the composite container is blown to full size, as noted, theadhesive or glue spreads between the two containers over the entiresurface area of the desired connection in a thin coating. As this ishard to depict, the “strips” continue to be shown in the figures for thefull size blown-up containers, albeit shown as wider to illustrate thespreading out process. In exemplary embodiments of the present inventionthere are not, generally, areas between the two containers that are onlyadhering along “strips.” The two containers actually adhere over theentire surface area of the desired connection (e.g., from the top toabout half-way down).

In alternative exemplary embodiments of the present invention adhesiveconnection 8 can be adapted to detach in a controlled manner under theinfluence of pressures occurring in container 1. Thus, in such exemplaryembodiments, when product P is dispensed by introducing displacingmedium D under pressure, inner container 3 would not fold on itself asshown in FIGS. 6-7, but rather, in such alternate exemplary embodiments,inner container 3 would be gradually pulled away from the side wall ofouter container 2 as a result of adhesive connection 8 detaching, andthus the inner container shrinks both width-wise and length-wise asproduct P is dispensed. This alternate exemplary embodiment is shown inFIGS. 11-12.

In yet another exemplary embodiment according to the present invention,a composite container suitable for simultaneously dispensing twoproducts P1 and P2 can be provided. In such exemplary embodiments, asecond inner container 16 can be provided inside first inner container3, which can be, for example, connected to outer container 2 by means ofan adhesive connection 8 as shown in FIG. 13 (dotted lines). Suchsecondary inner container 16 can also have a dispensing opening 17,which can be mounted in a random manner in dispensing opening 4 ofprimary inner container 3 (random, in the sense of no particularrotational orientation being required between secondary inner containerdispensing opening 17 and primary inner container dispensing opening 4).

Also arranged between dispensing opening 4 of primary inner container 3and dispensing opening 17 of secondary inner container 16 can be, forexample, a number of ribs 18, which can, for example, be peripherallydistributed and which can, for example, maintain a number of clearpassages between the two inner containers 3 and 16. In this mannerprimary inner container 3 can be filled with product P1 to be dispensedtherefrom, as shown in FIGS. 14, and P1 can then in turn be dispensedfrom the container.

During use of the exemplary “two-product” composite container 1 of FIGS.14-15, a displacing medium D can, for example, be introduced into thespace between outer container 2 and primary inner container 3, wherebyprimary inner container 3 is brought under pressure. As a result,secondary inner container 16 is simultaneously also placed underpressure. This is because Product P1 in primary inner container 3functions as a displacing medium for secondary inner container 16. Whenthe dosing head (not shown) is opened, both products P1 and P2 can besimultaneously dispensed from composite container 1, as shown in FIG.15. For example, there are toothpastes that are currently dispensed intwo components from a two-compartment tube. One of the components is astandard toothpaste with a whitener, the other a mouthwash containinggel, often colored blue or green (to suggest “minty-ness” “cool taste”or “freshness”). The gel component tends to be of lower viscosity thanthe toothpaste component. In exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention such a compound toothpaste can, for example, be dispensedusing the “two-product” composite container of FIGS. 13-15. It is notedthat product P1 can, for example, be the less viscuous product and P2,relatively speaking, the more viscuous product. In that approach, P1will not push over P2 at the top of the bottle and potentially cutoff,or crimp, the flow of P2 out of its dispensing opening 17.

In still an alternate exemplary embodiment according to the presentinvention, an adhesive or glue can be applied to an inner perform in aspiral manner around the part of inner container 3 situated closest todispensing opening 4 (e.g., around the upper half of the compositecontainer), as shown in FIG. 16. In addition, at the position where theadhesive is provided, inner container 3 can also have a recess in itsouter surface in which the adhesive can be received. Such a recess can,for example, be formed by reducing the wall thickness or, for example,by displacing the entire wall slightly inward.

In such exemplary embodiments, when inner container 3 is pressed intoouter container 2 during manufacture, adhesive strip 8 is spread anddistributed over the entire recess R—as shown schematically by thegreater width of strip 8 in FIG. 17 (see increased width of black linesrelative to strip width as shown in FIG. 16). Despite the fact that therecessed portions of the outer wall of inner container 3 do not directlylie against the inner wall of outer container 2, a good connection cannevertheless be formed between inner container 3 and outer container 2.This is important for good heat transfer during the blow molding ofinner and outer containers 2 and 3. During such blow molding the alreadyspread adhesive layer can, for example, be distributed even furtherunder the influence of the high pressure (for example, on the order of30 bar or more), so that a uniform connection can be formed over aconsiderable part of the contact surface between inner container 3 andouter container 2—and not just where the original adhesive strips wereplaced as shown in FIG. 16.

It is noted that in such “recessed wall” exemplary embodiments, as wellas in the “two-liquid” exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 13-15, and thebasic exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 4-7, adhesive connection 8 is notintended to detach in a controlled manner as described in connectionwith the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 8-12. Rather, in all suchexemplary embodiments, adhesive connection 8 must provide an airtightseal, and withstand the pressures which develop when displacing medium Dis pressed into composite container 1. Displacing medium D is thusprevented from being able to penetrate between inner container 3 andouter container 2 in the vicinity of dispensing opening 4. As describedabove regarding previous embodiments (FIGS. 4-7), inner container 3 thenfolds inside itself in a piston type motion, and its non-adheringportion eventually comes to lie inside and along its adhering portion,as shown in FIG. 20.

FIGS. 21-30 depict an enhanced exemplary embodiment according to thepresent invention, where an anti-stick coating is used for thenon-adhering portions of the two containers, in addition to a glue oradhesive being used to connect the adhering portions. Thus, FIG. 21depicts an inner container, where the upper half has glue applied to it,and the lower half has a non-stick coating applied to it. As noted, theglue or adhesive is applied to a pre-form, and can, for example, beapplied to the outer surface of the inner container pre-form (as shownin FIG. 21) or, alternatively, to the inner surface of the outercontainer pre-form. The anti-stick coating can be a variety ofmaterials, such as, for example, silicone oil, olive oil, etc. FIG. 22depicts a corresponding outer container, and, in the magnified portionat the bottom right of FIG. 22, shows the details of the central seatand air/displacing medium passages to the sides of the seat. Finally,FIG. 23 shows the two containers being and as assembled, where the pinat the bottom of the inner container, although seated in the seat, isnot affixed to the outer container at the bottom, as described above, sothat the inner container can move upwards in the piston like motion, asdescribed in connection with FIGS. 27-30 below. It is noted that theouter container shown in FIG. 22 can also be used in exemplary deviceswhich do attach the inner container at the seat, and as here, where theinner container is not attached at the seat. An example of the use ofsuch an outer container pre-form in devices which do connect the innerand outer containers at the bottom seat, is described in U.S.Provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/398,484, filed on Jun. 25,2010, entitled INTEGRATED ONE-PAK FLAIR, inventors Wilhelmus JohannesJoseph Maas and Petrus Lambertus Wilhelmus Hurkmans, which is undercommon assignment herewith (Applicants reserve the right to amend thisapplication to supply the correct provisional serial number whenavailable). In such devices, in order to introduce a displacing medium,the openings at the side of the seat are needed. Where the innercontainer is free to move upwards and is not fixed, as in FIG. 23, otherdesigns are possible. Thus, in exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention the passages to the side of the central seat of the outercontainer can be modified, or removed, as may be desired.

FIG. 24 depicts an air valve provided in a power connector, forcontrolling the flow of a displacing medium between the inner and outercontainers. This valve-power connector assembly can be affixed to thebottom of the composite container pre-form of FIG. 23 by spin welding,for example, as shown in FIG. 25.

FIG. 26 depicts the completed composite container pre-form of FIG. 25being transformed to a normal full-size bottle, via blow molding, forexample.

FIGS. 27-30 are cut-away views depicting various stages of dispensingproduct from a full size composite container. The outer container isshown in orange, and the top portion (a semi-cylinder) has been cut awayto show the inner container, shown in blue inside the back semi-cylinderof the outer container, shown in orange.

FIG. 27 depicts the composite container where the inner container isfull of product, and none has been dispensed, a so-called “Step 0.” Theupper portion of the inner container is glued to the inside wall of theouter container, while there is an anti-stick coating covering thebottom portion of the inner container's outside wall, thus facilitatingits upward movement relative to the outer container. It is noted thatthe glue shown in FIGS. 21 and 27 is accurately shown, as a full coatingof glue or adhesive spread or sprayed over the surface area of the innercontainer that is to be connected to the outer container, here shown asextending over more than the top half of the containers.

It is noted that such glue or adhesive can conveniently be applied to apre-form by spraying, either preferably via an automatic sprayingmachine, or alternatively, by hand. Such glue or adhesive can also beapplied manually by dispensing form a tube, for example, or using otherknown means. As noted above, once the composite container pre-forms areassembled, as in FIG. 23, when they are heated and blown to full size,as depicted in FIG. 26, the pressure of the blowing process, which canbe, for example, between 25-40 bar, causes the glue to spread evenlybetween the two containers across the entire surface area of the desiredconnection in a very thin layer (much thinner than the thickness of theglue layer as applied to the pre-form).

As noted, instead of using glue or adhesive, the two containers of thecomposite container can also be welded, such as, for example, via laser,ultrasonic, or the like. Such welding can occur after the pre-forms havebeen blown to full size. If technology is, or becomes, available so asto conveniently weld the two containers as pre-forms, that can, forexample, be alternatively done, and then be followed by the blowingstep.

FIG. 28 shows an initial dispensing step, where pressure is applied fromthe bottom of the container, causing the inner container to moveupwards, its inner wall sliding along itself. FIG. 29 shows a seconddispensing step, a bit below an approximate midpoint in the dispensingprocess, where the inner wall of the inner container continues to moveupwardly. In the shown configuration, the upward motion of the innercontainer has not yet reached the height of the bottle where the innercontainer is glued to the inner wall of the outer container. Here thepressure has caused the bottom of the inner container to be turned“outside in”, and the depressions in the bottom of the inner containerhave thus smoothed out under the applied pressure. As noted, no airenters between the inner container and outer container where the twohave been glued (or elded, via laser, ultrasonic, or the like as thecase may be), because, in exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, the glue or weld of the two containers provides an air-tightseal.

Finally, FIG. 30 shows a final step in the dispensing process. Here thebottom portion (approximately somewhat less than half of the containersurface) of the inner container has completely folded inside itself, andall product has been pushed out through the opening at the top of thecontainer. The only portion of the inner container still touching theinner wall of the outer container is that portion to which the glue wasapplied, and thus the inner container is approximately half glued to theouter container and approximately half folded inside itself, and allproduct is easily pushed out. In exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention the line separating the glued form the non-glued portions ofthe container can be more than, or even less than, half way down, as maybe desired in various circumstances, however, such line being slightlybelow the half way point can, for example, ensure that there is alwayssufficient free inner container to provide the piston effect and pushthe product up and out of the container.

Thus, in exemplary embodiments of the present invention a compositecontainer can be formed in a relatively simple manner, and such acomposite container can be used to dispense a product, or multipleproducts, uniformly by means of a displacing medium, without the productever coming into contact with the displacing medium. In exemplaryembodiments of the present invention such a composite container can behighly suitable for dispensing food products. In exemplary embodimentsof the present invention such a composite container can have its innercontainer glued over approximately its upper half to the inner wall ofthe outer container, and the lower half of the inner container can havea non-stick coating applied, to facilitate its upward piston-like motionrelative to the outer container as pressure is applied by the displacingmedium.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a number ofexemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat the invention is not limited thereto. The inner container and/orthe outer container can thus, for example, be manufactured from variousother materials than those exemplary materials discussed above, and can,in particular, comprise multiple layers. The form and dimensions of eachof the inner and outer containers could also be varied, such as, forexample, to provide a plurality of inner containers in a single outercontainer adjacently to, instead of nested in, one another. The adhesiveconnection between the (primary) inner container(s) and outer containercan also, for example, be differently formed, it is, for example,possible to envisage arranging a number of adhesive strips distributedover the periphery running parallel to the longitudinal axis. Suchstrips could either form a permanent connection, around which the innercontainer can fold, or could, for example, gradually detach. Further, itis possible to envisage a weld connection being formed between the innercontainer and the outer container as opposed to an adhesive connection.Thus, the scope of the invention is therefore defined solely by thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A composite container, comprising: aform-retaining outer container comprising a neck; a flexible innercontainer, the inner container comprising a dispensing opening mountedin the neck of the outer container, wherein the inner container isfurther connected over a part of its surface area near the dispensingopening to a corresponding surface area of the inside of the outercontainer near the neck, via an adhesive or weld connection, whereinthere remains a portion of the inner container not connected to thesidewall of the outer container, and wherein, in operation, in responseto an overpressure developed by a displacing medium introduced betweenthe inner container and the outer container, a portion of the innercontainer that is not connected to the outer container moves at leastone of: (i) towards the dispensing opening and (ii) within, the portionof the inner container that is connected to the outer container.
 2. Thecomposite container of claim 1, wherein at least one of: the adhesive orweld connection is a weld, via laser or ultrasonic; and the adhesive orweld connection creates an air-tight seal.
 3. The composite container ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of: the adhesive or weld connectionextends substantially over the whole periphery of a defined outersurface area of the inner container nearest the dispensing opening, andthe adhesive or weld connection can withstand pressures occurring in thecontainer.
 4. The composite container of claim 1, wherein at least oneof: the adhesive or weld connection takes the form of at least oneadhesive strip or weld extending substantially parallel to or at anon-right angle to a longitudinal axis running from the dispensingopening to an opposite bottom of the container; the adhesive or weldconnection is arranged substantially halfway between the dispensingopening and the bottom of the container; and the adhesive or weldconnection covers an area of the inner container between the dispensingopening and substantially halfway between the dispensing opening and thebottom of the container.
 5. The composite container of claim 1, wherein,in response to the overpressure developed by a displacing mediumintroduced between the inner container and the outer container, theportion of the inner container not connected to the outer containerfolds inside itself so that the inner wall of the portion of the innercontainer not connected to the outer container substantially covers theinner wall of the portion of the inner container that remains connectedto the outer container.
 6. The composite container of claim 1, furthercomprising a secondary inner container provided within the innercontainer.
 7. The composite container of claim 1, wherein the innercontainer and the outer container are each preformed as injection-moldedparts and, after the adhesive or weld connection has been realized, arebrought into their final form by blow molding.
 8. The compositecontainer of claim 1, wherein at least one of a product and a liquid isprovided in the inner container for dispensing.
 9. The compositecontainer of claim 6, wherein at least one of a product and a liquid isprovided in each of the inner container and in the secondary innercontainer for dispensing.
 10. The composite container of claim 6,wherein in operation at least one of: (i) two products are dispensed, afirst product from the inner container, and a second product from thesecondary inner container, and (ii) two products are dispensed, a firstproduct from the inner container, and a second product from thesecondary inner container, wherein the first product is less viscousthan the second product.
 11. A method for manufacturing a compositecontainer, comprising: forming a form-retaining outer containercomprising a neck, forming a flexible inner container comprising adispensing opening, providing the inner container in the outercontainer, and providing an opening in the outer container, arranged toconnect to an overpressure source, said opening in fluid communicationwith a gap between the inner container and the outer container; andconnecting the inner container over a part of its surface area near thedispensing opening to a corresponding inner surface area of the outercontainer near the neck, via an adhesive or weld connection, leaving aportion of the inner container not connected to the sidewall of theouter container, wherein said portion of the inner container notconnected to the outer container is arranged, under an overpressure, tomove towards the dispensing opening and within the portion of the innercontainer that is connected to the outer container.
 12. The method asclaimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of: the adhesive or weldconnection extends substantially over the whole periphery of a definedouter surface area of the inner container nearest the dispensingopening, the adhesive or weld connection can withstand pressuresoccurring in the container, and at least one adhesive strip, adhesivecompound, or weld is arranged between the inner container and the outercontainer.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of: theadhesive or weld connection takes the form of at least one adhesivestrip or weld extending substantially parallel to or at a non-rightangle to a longitudinal axis running from the dispensing opening to anopposite bottom of the container; the adhesive or weld connection isarranged substantially halfway between the dispensing opening and thebottom of the container; the adhesive or weld connection covers an areaof the inner container between the dispensing opening and substantiallyhalfway between the dispensing opening and the bottom of the container;or the adhesive or weld connection is formed substantially over thewhole periphery of the upper surface area of the inner container. 14.The method of claim 11, wherein, for an adhesive connection, an adhesivestrip or adhesive compound is arranged on the inner container before theinner container is provided within the outer container.
 15. The methodof claim 11, wherein a secondary inner container is provided within theinner container.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the outer containerand the inner container are formed by injection molding.
 17. The methodof claim 15, wherein after being adhered to each other or weldedtogether, the outer container, the inner container and the secondaryinner container are brought into their final form by blow molding. 18.The method of claim 11, further comprising filling the inner containerwith at least one of a product and a liquid to be dispensed.
 19. Themethod of claim 15, further comprising filling each of the innercontainer and the secondary inner container with at least one of aproduct and a liquid be dispensed.
 20. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising, prior to said blow molding, providing a nonstick coatingbetween at least a part of the portion of the inner container notconnected to the outer container and a corresponding portion of theouter container.